Lottery game with a word association group play style

The invention relates to lottery products of variable output terminal printed draw games, pre-determined outcome scratch-off games, and digital play lottery games sold by government regulated lottery agencies, specifically lottery games styled as ‘word association’ games, and methods of playing same.

In a typical scratch-off lottery game, a player purchases a physical pre-printed scratch-off lottery game card with outcomes hidden by a layer of overprint material that can be revealed by removing with a scratching motion. The same form of the scratch off ticket can also be achieved digitally using a smart phone, tablet or computer, whereby hidden outcomes are revealed by touching the screen or point and click with a cursor. If these exposed areas reveal a specific outcome or pattern, the player can win a primary prize from the game prize pool structure. If the player does not win a primary prize, the game play value could be extended by offering another chance to win in a secondary prize pool. This could be delivered as another random chance to win from the same purchased ticket by activating a digital second chance game and applying a drawing entry after entering the unique serial number from the ticket into an internet hosted entry site.

In lottery game tickets, there are icons that represent play symbols. In a “Match-Style” game play, you need to match ‘like symbols’ to complete a set and there would be an associate PRIZE awarded for completing that set. In some game play styles, you need to match a set of ‘like PRIZE values’ to determine a prize.

As additional entertainment value, a game play method could be applied to the lottery ticket or game that does not impact the prize outcome, but extends the experience for the player. Applying a word association puzzle play style to the game delivers this type of added value.

The word association game play is for entertainment value only and does not impact the prize outcome. Lottery tickets are a non-skill based game of chance with randomly assigned prize outcomes. However, lottery tickets are also a form of gaming entertainment and can incorporate skill-based game play to extend the entertainment value, as long as it doesn't affect the prize award outcome of the game (“extended game play”). This word association game play provides that extended play entertainment value to each of the different lottery game product types.

In this invention, we would employ the method of matching ‘like PRIZE values’ to determine the prize as the extended play value involves matching words that share a commonality in a skill-based format for entertainment purposes only.

a. One such embodiment would group each set of four squares by sharing the same printed background color. One set of four associated words would have a green background. One set of four associated words would have a yellow background. One set of four associated words would have a blue background. One set of four associated words would have a pink background. b. One such embodiment would have a group key number or symbol to match each set of four words into the word association group. c. One such embodiment would have a one-color unique pattern printed in the background of each set of four squares to match the four words into a word association group. One embodiment provides a physical scratch-off lottery game card with a 4×4 matrix word association puzzle. This card has a substrate with the same 4×4 grid printed on the top of the substrate. One word is printed in each of the sixteen different squares, and the same word is printed in the same location on the scratch off material covering those words. The squares are distributed in a 4×4 matrix. When the squares with the words are uncovered, the printed area under the scratch off material reveals the matching word association groups of four by using one of the common imaging methods below:

In this method, the non-skill prize outcome is pre-determined by printing four (4) ‘like PRIZE values’ within one matching set of four word association groups.

4 2 d a. One such embodiment could encapsulate the word association puzzle reveal groups in a printedbarcode format (QR Code, Datamatrix, PDF417), allowing the player to try to solve the puzzle on the printed ticket and then scan the reveal barcode with a scanner enabled mobile device app that can display the answers on the device. b. One such embodiment would be to print an exposed match key table or legend under the puzzle area with symbols printed under each of the 16 words that map to the four explained word association groups in the legend. Another embodiment provides the extended play value on a terminal generated draw game style lottery product. This product differs from the aforementioned ‘scratch off lottery game card’ by not hiding any of the play area with any removable printed material. Terminal generated games are printed on demand from a closed-network retail lottery terminal as single-color variable data images on a thermal transfer paper or dot-matrix imaging system. The non-skill based pre-determined prize outcome on this type of game ticket would be a matchlike prize amounts in a word group and win that prize. As this product does not have a player operated reveal method, the word association extended play value would be hidden by a code printed on the lottery game ticket.

a. One such embodiment of the extended play would provide a web application game with a 4×4 color grid displaying 16 different words, one in each square of the grid. As the player clicks or taps a word, it highlights in a “selected” state. Once four words are Selected, the application will either animate the group as correct and move to the top of the screen also displaying a PRIZE value under each word. If all 4 PRIZE values in that group match, that prize is awarded in the game ticket. If the selected group is incorrect, the app will display an error message that it was an incorrect group, deselect all the selections and instruct the player to try again. A final embodiment provides for a digital lottery game version, in some lottery jurisdictions referred to as iLottery games. These lottery game tickets provide the same government regulated legal requirements as the previous game examples of non-skill based, pre-determined prize outcomes with each play. However, these games have the added benefit of being distributed electronically on internet enabled computer devices (i.e. laptops, mobile phones, tablet computers) via web browsers and mobile apps. This allows for more multimedia features than a printed lottery ticket can provide, in the form of full color motion images, sound effects, music and animated player graphic UI/UX (user interface, user experience). This makes the word association extended game play experience more entertaining giving the player more hints and chances to group the words, without fully revealing the answers. And the pre-determined prize outcome could be more prominently displayed with end of game callout messaging, to avoid any confusion. A control link button will always be visible in the game to REVEAL PRIZE, giving the player the opportunity to skip the extended play entertainment value and reveal the pre-determined outcome of the game ticket.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent after review of the hereinafter set forth Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and the Claims. Objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

A word association group four game (‘Word Association Group’) involves a table of four columns and an equal or greater number of rows, typically four, to generate a matrix where each cell can house a single word. In a 4×4 matrix example, 16 different words would be randomly placed in the 16 cells. Prior to placing the words in each cell, they are assembled into sets or groups of four that have a common pattern, association or relationship, and that result answer key is hidden from the player. The words are then randomly applied to each of the cells in the matrix to scramble the order of the groups, creating a challenge for the player to re-group them in their word association order. When a player correctly selects and groups four words into a correct association, the result key is revealed to validate the correct group. Certain embodiments of this style of game play are distributed digitally in mobile device applications and html web browser-based software applications. This invention proposes a way of applying this style of game play for both printed and digital lottery game products.

By definition a government regulated lottery game involves a game of chance by which the outcome cannot be determined with any application of skill. While this invention involves a puzzle game play that can provide an advantage to players more skilled in the game style, the play style does not have any impact on the random outcome applied to the lottery game in determining a win. This play style adds a layer of entertainment value for the lottery purchaser that desires additional game play before revealing the outcome.

At any time, the purchaser can expose the outcome of the game by scratching off all the removable material without engaging in the play style for entertainment value. A game ticket win status can be determined by asking an authorized lottery retailer to check the ticket, or by using any available ‘ticket checking’ devices or applications provided by the lottery.

a. First is revealing the correct groups of four words mapped to their GROUP KEY. In the example of a 4×4 matrix, there would be 4 groups of 4 words each associated to 1 of 4 pre-determined groups. b. Once the groups of four have been revealed, the PRIZE within each group must be identical to win that PRIZE. For example, if all four words in GROUP 1 have a PRIZE amount of $5 below each word within that cell, then that is a $5 PRIZE win outcome. Revealing the win or no-win outcome of the lottery game employing the word association group play style involves two levels of grouping.

1 FIG. 100 The first embodiment of the invention is applied to a multi layered, commercial printing press method of printing secure lottery game tickets commonly referred to as scratch-off tickets (‘scratch-off tickets’) where a printed game card starts with a flat substrate upon which a grid of sixteen (16) squares is printed in a 4×4 matrix. The substrate may be of suitable card stock material on which printing can be received, generally of paper. The squares are populated with a combination of words, symbols and prize descriptions typically formatted as USD currency amounts. This initial printing layer holds the variable data outcome of the game that is randomly generated by software applications and imaged in an initial stage of the printing process. After which a layer of removable material, typically latex, is applied over the outcome imaging to mask the results until the player removes the layer by scratching off the material. An identical 4×4 matrix is imaged on the removeable layer in the same position as the first image, positioning the 16 words in the same location, masking the PRIZE outcome with a repeating single word PRIZE. This guides the player to the area under the removable material where the random prize values will be visible.illustrates a lottery game cardfor a scratch-off 4×4 matrix word association group four style game, with the removable material covering the outcome layer.

101 102 103 The randomly arranged single words are printed one to each cellin the grid, with the repeating common word PRIZEprinted below, to indicate where the variable data outcome prize value will be printed underneath. The lottery game card also includes a masked GROUP KEY tableabove the 4×4 matrix of a single column with 4 rows, each labeled GROUP 1, GROUP 2, GROUP 3, GROUP 4.

2 FIG. 2 FIG. 200 201 203 204 205 206 After a player purchases a lottery game card, the player may play out the word association game by guessing a first set of four words on the grid, and scratching off the removeable material in just those four cells. Each different embodiment of the scratch-off game application allows for a different method of mapping the groups under the scratch off material.illustrates an answer matrix with squares uncovered. Each set of four words are grouped by a unique color backgroundapplied in the initial printing stage along with the variable outcome data. Once the removeable material is scratched off to reveal each cell, the player will know that they grouped all four correctly by the common unique background color for those four words. Any words that have a different background color are not part of the same GROUP. The group is confirmed when the player scratches the removable area in the corresponding GROUP KEYto reveal the same group background color. If the corresponding PRIZE values match in all four cells in a single group, the player wins a prize associated with that pattern.. Illustrates a $10 PRIZE win scenarioby having the same $10 PRIZE value under each of the four words in GROUP 1 that share the unique background color. The word association KEY for GROUP 1 is “PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE”and the four words in the group are WING, CABIN, NOSE and ENGINE, each with the PRIZE amount of $10.00 below the word within the cell.

Alternatively, the player can select to first scratch-off one or all of the GROUP KEY values to provide a hint as to which words should be grouped together. Then try to group the words in the grid. At any point the player can scratch off all the material to reveal the outcome and determine if they won a prize.

3 FIG. 1 FIG. 300 illustrates another embodiment of the process for scratch off lottery game card in. In this embodiment the word association groups are mapped by a common one-color background patternprinted in tandem with the variable outcome layer under the removeable material. This provides for an alternative to the previous embodiment if color imaging is not available for the printing process. As in the first embodiment, the player can scratch off individual cells to reveal the word, prize and pattern. If their subsequent selections reveal the same unique printed background pattern, they can confirm that is a correct group. If the corresponding PRIZE values match in all four cells in a single group, the player wins a prize associated with that pattern.

4 FIG. 1 FIG. 400 401 illustrates another embodiment of the process for scratch off lottery game card in. In this embodiment the word association groups are mapped by a common hidden SYMBOLprinted in tandem with the variable outcome layer under the removeable material. This provides for an alternative to the previous embodiment if a unique background imaging process is not desired. As in the first embodiment, the player can scratch off individual cells to reveal the word, prize and SYMBOL. If their subsequent selections reveal the same unique SYMBOL pattern, they can confirm that is a correct group. If the corresponding PRIZE values match in all four cells in a single group, the player wins a prize associated with that pattern.

Briefly defined, terminal generated lottery games are printed on demand from a closed-network retail lottery terminal as single-color variable data images on a thermal transfer paper or dot-matrix imaging system. Contrast to previous embodiments, this eliminates the possibility of masking an outcome and does not allow for any color imaging. The game of chance random win or no win outcomes are generated by a central computer draw system within the network operated by a contracted lottery system vendor.

5 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 500 501 502 503 503 504 503 illustrates a terminal generated draw game embodiment of the invention. When a player purchases the game, the lottery terminal images the word association group play style grid onto the ticket in random order. To facilitate the GROUP KEY patterns, the terminal can apply a similar method as, by placing a common SYMBOL within the cell along with the word. The player can play out the word association game play style by selecting the wordsand then checking by matching four like symbols. The GROUP KEY is printed below the game board and the player can reference the key validate the groups. If the corresponding PRIZE values match in all four cells in a single group, the player wins a prize associated with that pattern.illustrates a $10 winoutcome as the GROUP 1 pattern of 4 matching*symbolshave the same $10 PRIZE amount in the cell.

At any time, the purchaser can expose the outcome of the game without engaging in the play style for entertainment value. A game ticket win status can be determined by asking an authorized lottery retailer to check the ticket, or by scanning the ticket serial number barcode with any available ‘ticket checking’ devices or applications provided by the lottery.

600 601 6 FIG. a. encapsulate all the puzzle results that can be revealed using a mobile device or other camera enabled device with a standard barcode scanner application or, b. store a URL that when exposed by an internet-enabled device with a barcoded scanner, can redirect the user to a website that more graphically displays the game play results. This method could also extend the game play by generating the puzzle on a website with multimedia capabilities allowing for a more interactive user experience, similar to the next embodiment of the invention. Another embodiment of the terminal generated lottery game product can mask the outcome of the word game by encapsulating the word association group puzzle results and GROUP KEY in a 2d barcode. This method provides for more of a challenge and surprise reveal of the word association entertainment play value within the game by not exposing the patterns on the printed ticket at time of purchase.illustrates one such embodiment using a QR Code style 2d barcode. This symbology could either

Briefly defined, Digital Lottery Games, also known as iLottery Games, share the same pre-determined, randomly generated outcome, no-skill games of chance as Scratch-Off games and Terminal Generated Draw games, with a few advantages. Digital lottery games have the added benefit of being distributed electronically on internet-enabled computer devices (i.e. laptops, mobile phones, tablet computers) via web browsers and mobile apps. This allows for more multimedia features than a printed lottery ticket can provide, in the form of full color motion images, sound effects, music and animated player graphic UI/UX (user interface, user experience).

7 FIG. 700 701 702 703 One final embodiment of the invention allows for the game play style to be applied to Digital Lottery games or iLottery product.illustrates an example of a simple digital game UXgenerated after the player process of purchasing a digital lottery game instance of this type. The player device displays the word association game gridin a more simplified format than previous embodiments, only including the single word in each cell. Also displayed is a masked table of the GROUP KEY, listing out each of the different Groups 704 that are to be revealed after the player successfully completes cach four word association in the game matrix.

8 FIG. 7 FIG. 8 FIG. 800 801 801 . illustrates a selection of four words from the grid after a player clicks or touches each squarewith the computer input device (i.e. mouse, touch-screen, etc.) from the embodiment in. The ‘selected’ cell is highlighted by a background color and the player is allowed to select four cells before the application evaluates the group. If the player selects the correct group of four cells, the application will expose the corresponding GROUP in the GROUP KEY legendon the right, displaying the associated answer. The example inshows a successful grouping of GROUP 1being ‘PARTS OF AN AIRPLANE=WING, CABIN, NOSE and ENGINE’. The successful matching group of four tiles will remain highlighted in the group color for a moment, and then the words will convert to PRIZE amounts in each tile.

9 FIG. 9 FIG. 900 901 902 903 . Illustrates the PRIZE amount reveal of each cell in a correct group. The application will then display a dialog box messageaggregating all the PRIZE amounts and alerting the player if it is a WIN or NO-WIN outcome. Inthe example is showing PRIZE amounts for GROUP 1 as $10, $25, $10 and $100. Since these are not four matching prize amounts in the group, this is a NO WIN outcome. The player can complete the three other groups to reveal if they are WIN or NO WIN outcomes.

904 At any time, the purchaser can expose the outcome of the game without engaging in the play style for entertainment value. In the digital lottery game embodiment of the invention, there is a REVEAL buttonon every screen of the application. If the player selects this button, the game will automatically animate through all the group associations, exposing all the PRIZE amount groups and possible WIN and NO WIN outcomes.

10 FIG. 1000 is a flow chart mapping out the player journey for purchasing and engaging in the word association group four play stylein the process of playing the lottery game with a chance to win prizes. The player purchases a play of one of the different lottery game type embodiments. At the point of purchase, the outcome of that lottery game has been pre-determined before the player reveals any outcomes. Once the ticket is purchased, the player can opt to engage in the extended play style to try to solve the puzzle before revealing the pre-determined prize outcome. If the player chooses to extend the play experience, they make the choices associated with the word association match four game. The associated game play outcomes are revealed according to game type. The PRIZE outcomes are revealed at this time and the player can analyze the results to see if they won a PRIZE. If a player opts to not extend the play experience, they can reveal the outcome of any game using the reveal method for that game type.

While the embodiments and its subparts, as outlined in this application are understood to be the most applicable to this invention, it is possible that these may be enhanced and further embodiments formed by those having the benefit of using the descriptions and drawings utilized herein to which this patent should encompass. Furthermore, while specific terms are used herein and in the claims provision, they are not meant to limit the invention in any way or the claims as set forth below.